Improvement in harvesters



UNITED STATES lPATENT ()rrrcno -WILLIAM VAN/ANDEN, or POUGHKEEPSIE, NEWYORKa IMPROVEMENT INv HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 36,4309datcd September9, 1862, f

To all whom/.2lb may concern:

Be known that I, WILLIAM VAN ANDEN, of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county,State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in`Machinery for Mowing and Reaping Grass and Grain, &c.; and I do herebydeclare the following. to be a full description vof the same. Y

The nature of my invention consists, first, in making the rail of theframe of the machine on the side next to the cutter in't'wo parts',`sothat the lower part may turn or rotate on a center pin secured into theend of the upper or stationary part of the rail when disconnected fromthe end of the front rail of the frame7 for the purpose of folding backthe cutter-bar secured to the outer end of the adjustable part of theside rail. A Y

The second part of my invention consists in combining the cutter-bed andcutter-bar attached thereto with the lower end of lthe adjustable partof the side rail, so as dto unite the cutter-bed and frame of themachine together as one solid fixture, when the adjustable portion ofthe side rail is locked securely upon the end of the front rail, for thepurpose of j making what may be called a A rigid cutterbar,77 incontradistinction to a hinged cutterbar, the object being to ,cause thecutters to work with less friction as well as less jar upon the framethan is the case with machines having hinged cutter-bars attached to theshoe or end of the frame. 4

rI he third part of my invention consists in adjusting thepropellingwvheel on the axle of the machine next to the cutters on theinside of theside rail, for the purpose of combining the said wheel withthe driving gear-wheel of the machine, and also accommodating theoscillating motion of the frame.`

The fourth part of my invention consists in the method of balancing theframe upon a knife-edge shoulder or hub formed upon the axle of thepropelling-wheels, so that when surrounded by a suitable box securedupon the middle rail of the frame it prevents the frame from slidingfrom side to side on the axle, and

\ at the same time permits it'to have an oscillat' ing motion.

The fifth part of my invention consistsv in t the combination of thecutter-bar elevator-' lever with the table-board immediately ,be-f hindthe drivers seat, so as to make the frame ofthe machine act like a leverof the first order, the prop ,or axle being between the weight and thepower, in contradistinction to the application of the third order of thelever commonly used in mowinglmachines to lift the cutters from off theground.

The sixth part of my invention consists in the method of combining anadjustable driver? s seat with the table-board of the machine,so o as tomake a single thin fiat plate of steel stiff enough to support thedriver, and yet elastic enough to make a `spring-seat, and thus cheapenthe cost of making a spring-seat.

The seventh part of my invention consists in combining a pole,Ysuspended from the end ,of the table or bed board of the machine by asliding joint, with an oscillating mower-frame and drag-chain, for thepurpose of allowing the cutter-frame to have the same pressure at alltimes on the surface ofithe ground without regard tothe elevation ordepression of the pole.

The eighth part of my invention consists in the method of taking up andlocking the drag,

chain by means of a staple passing through the sides of the pole andhaving on its back end a screw and binding-nut, so that when a link ofthe chain is passed through the eye of the staple and the nut drawn upit binds upon the flattened portion of the link, and thus holds itsolidly and securely, and prevents any slip or backlash, as is the ,casewhen the chain slacks up if held by a hook.

The ninth part of my invention consists in arranging and operating thecutter-bar of a sidewise-oscillating mower-frame, suspended on the axleof a two-wheel mowing-1n achine, to

ythe vfront end of the machine, instead of arranging and operating it tothe back end of lthe frame, or on a line, or nearly so, with thepropelling-wheel axle. Y Y Y But to describe my invention moreparticularly, I will refer to the accompanying drawings, forming a partof this specic/atiomthe same letters of reference, wherever they occur,referring to like parts.

Figure 1 is a'plan view. of the machine.

. 4 wia same. i Fig. 10 is a detached side view of the drivers seat,showing its mode of combmation with the table-board. Fig. 11 is a frontviewof .the same. Fig. l2 is a detached cut sectional view of thecompound coupling-box. Fig.`13 is a detached side view of the interiorof the coupling-box for operating the propelling-wheel at the right-handof the driver.I

Fig. 14 is a detached side View of the interior ofthe coupling-box foroperating the propelling-wheel to the left ofthe driver.

Letter A is the axle, and B and B are the propelling-Wheels. i B? isarranged on the axle so esto be inside of the frame on the side of thecutter-bar. The object of this is to allow the frame tohave anoscillating motion, and also permit a rotating motion in a section ofthe side rail of the frame to reverse the cutter-bar. K

C is the frame, which is made or" metal, though it may be made of Wood,or wood and metal combined, as thought best.- This frame is designed tobe self-adjustable. -Forthis purpose a solid knife-edge shoulder or hub,D, is formed on the axle, so as to be about in the middle of the frame,to balance it. Upon this is secured a box, E, which is permanently`fixed to the middle rail ofthe frame, and thus allows the hub D freespace to rotate andhave sufficient play for a vibratory motion' in theframe, yet preventing any slipping of it from side to side .on the axle.

To one side of the box E is formed a bea-r-` ing, d2, upon which isadjusted the main driving gear-wheel F. The object ofthis is to havethis wheel as well as all the other gear-wheels,

G, H, and I, operating in connection therewith to propel the cutter-barsuspended upon the frame C, so that in its rocking onthe knifeedgebearing theseveral wheels will keep in gear, and thus work smoothly,though subject to a constant rocking or vibratory motion. To prevent theframe from having anysidewise lateral motion, boxes J J are secured onthe side rails ofthe frame over` the ends of the axle, so as to permitit to have a suiicient up-Y and-down motion, but no lateral'or sidewisemotion.

j listed upon the axleA between the propellingwheel Bzand main drivinggear-Wheel F. The

object of this vcompound coupling-box is to connect both thepropelling-wheels B and B2` with the gear F, so that whether the machineis turned tothe right orleft the cutter will be operated. This isefected by having the -wheel B fixed permanently upon the axle A, whilethe wheel B2 works loosely uponit, so that when the latch L, attached.to the upper side of the coupling-box, is dropped into its seat in themain gear-wheel F the click orp'awl M, attached to the inner face of thehub B2, acting upon the ratchet on the inner circumference ofthecoupling-box K, willoperate the gear-wheel F for propelling thecutters when making the turn from right to left round the wheel B as acenter of motion.

To operate the gearing for propelling the" cutters from left to rightround thewh eel B2, as a center of motion, the pawl M2 in the reverse oropposite half of the coupling-box is adjusted upon a disk or plate, m3,attached permanently tothe axle A, so that as the axle and wheel B',attached thereto, rotate, the'pawl M3, engagi n into the ratchet on theinner circumference of this half of the coupling-box, Vwill operate thegearing-wheels, and thus either propelling-` `Wheel `.may actindependently of the other to permit the machine to be turned `to theright or left hand at plea-sure. To keep the pawls down upon theratchets small springs are secured to them for that purpose.

` Letter N is the cutter-bar connecting-rod, attached at one end to therim of a 'ily-wheel,

O,- and at the other into an eye formed on the i end of the cutter-barl?.

Letter Q is `an adjustable shoe secured to the heel of the cutter-bed Rby `means of two vertical ear-pieces, g2, on its back edge, in each ofwhich are two or more holes for the insertion of binding-screws g3,secured into studs qt, formed on the upper side of the cutter-bed.`Theobject of this method of making theishoe adjustable is to make it sothat the shoe will have a 4forward or backward inclination or pitch, -ifdesired, or adjustedon a plane, and at the same time, in consequence ofthe earpieces being above'the bed, allow the s hoe to press the groundwith elasticity.V To the opposite or outer end of the cutter-bed B issecured, by bolts or rivets, a fixed guard-piece,. o, so as to form apart of the cutter-bed, and

thus atall times preserve a relative position with. reference to theendwise motion ofthe cutters' and without regard 'to the set of theadjustable runner or shoe (j, secured to its outer face bybinding-screws Q7, inserted through adi y justing-holes in the shoe andends q of the fixed guard-piece. This adjustable runner or shoe worksvertically against theA face of the `fixed guard-piece, and not underit, and is made with three or more adjusting-holes in each end, so as topermit its being set at pleas- I ure to cut long or short stubble, `asmay be desired.

v Letter K is a compound coupling-box ad! ing thereon in suitableguides) is riveted solidly to the ends of a side rail, C2, of the frameof the machine. The object of this is to The cutter-bed (having thecutter-bar workmake-a rigidcutter-bar-that is,\to have! no joint in thecutter-bar or vcutter-bed at their junction with the shoe for thepurpose of elej vating them, as is commonly the `case in mowinglmachines, and thus make the cutter-bar v vibrate smoothly and evenlythrough the slits jin the fingers to cut the grass, and at the same timeprevent, in a great measure, all noise and jar incidental to the wear ofhinged cutterbars.V By my invention the cutter-bed is made to be a solidportion of the frame when the machine is working; but when not in use,and it is requisite to elevatethe cutter-bar to pass through gateways orover roads, it may be done by disconnecting the section C ofthe siderail of the frame at the outside of the propelling-wheel B2 from the endlof the'front rail, C, ofthe frame ofthe machine. This is done bywithdrawing a pin, Ci, from ythe eye of a bolt, C, holding bothtogether. Thispermits the adjustable portion ofthe rail ,Cl thaving thecutter-bed attached thereto) to rotate upon the center pin, C6,securedfto the under side of the adjoining parts of the rail C and C,and'holding them from separating,

A and thus the operation of reversing or elevating the cutter-bar isaccomplished with the same facility and without disconnecting thecutter-bar connecting-rod, as in hinged cutterbars.

Letter S is a metal flooring or table securedupon the upper side of theaxle A in suitablev bearings for that purpose. l

T is the drivers seat, having -secured to its front lower edge a thinplate of spring-steel, t, whiclris inserted into a socket, t, andsliding loop tl, secured to a solid metal standard, f5, formed upon theflooring or table. The object of this arrangement is to make anadjustable spring-seat for the driver, and' at the same time cheapen thecost of the spring, as by my method of combining the spring with thestiffenerat the back of it, a less quantity of steel will be required,as well as bei'ngmorc easily made. M

Letter Uis a cutter-bar elevator-lever adjusted upon the back end of thetable or flooring S to the left hand of the drivers seat, s0 astooperate upon the back end of the frame of the machine, and thus makethe frame operate as a lever ofthe first order to llift the cutter-bar,and at the same time make the weight of the frame behind the aXle assistthe driver in elevating the front end yof it, instead ofcompelling himto lift the entire weight, as

is the casein mowing-machines where the cutter-bar lever is adjusted towork'on the front end of the frame. l

Letter vV is the pole to' which the horses are attached. This pole ismade to be self-adjustable with reference to the action of the cuttersinpassing over inequalities in the surface ofthe ground, but not in thetrack of the horses. This is effected by making an 0blong slot, V2, inthe front end of the table or flooring, (to which the pole isattached,') so that the king-bolt V", for holding them together, will beable to slide backward and forward in it as the cutter-bar falls into orrises out of the hollows in the surface of the ground, in consequence ofthc weight and draft of the machine being carried forward by thedragchain XV, secured to the front rail of the frame and the pole. Theoperation of this is that the draft of the machine is sustained by thechain. Therefore, if the cutter-bar falls into a hollow, the pole slidesback vupon the table yto compensate 'for its depression, while in risingout of a hollow the tendencyistodraw or slide forward, and thus ineither case' allow Vthe cutter to follow the surface Aof the ground,

instead of being carried over them, as would be the case if the polewere secu-red to the frame rigidly.

Letter X is an adjustable staple, having at its backend a screwand\bindingnut. The

vobject of this is to hold the drag-chain from slipping or having 'anybacklash when slackingV up, as would lbe the case if a hook were used;and as it is important, in a machine operating on the principle of myinvention, to have the relative positions of the cutterbar, frame, andpole certain and constant, to make the machine work successfully, themethod of holding the drag-chain assumes an importance of more signiicance than would appear at first view; and therefore the necessityof the special `device I have invented for that purpose.

Having now described my invention, I will proceed to set forth whatlclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesn l.Making a section of t-he side yrail of the' i frame next to the cutterand in front of the axle adjustable by connecting the same to the end ofthe stationary part of the rail by-.a center pin, so that when its lowerend is-disengaged from the end of the front rail of the frame, it mayVrotate on the center pin, substantially as hcreinbefore described, andfor the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of the cutter-bed (with the cutter-,bar workingthereon) with the adjustable. section of the side rail, substantially ashereinbefore `described, and for the purposes set forth. i

3. The combination of the propeller-wheel on. the side next to thecutter of a two-wheel mowing-machine with a frame having an Oscillatingmotion transversely of the path of the machine, when the said wheel isarranged on the outside of the side rail of the oscillating frame,`substantially as hereinbefore described. Y

L The use of thesolid or fixed knife-edge bearingor shoulder formationon the propelling-wheelaxle as a bearing oirwliich to balance the frameof the machine and prevent it from slippingfrom side to side thereon, incombination with the said frame and bearing d2 of the main drivinggear-wheel F, substantially as hereinbefore described, 'and for thepurposes set forth.

` 5. The combination of the cutter-bar eleva tor-lever with the back endof the flooring or ytable and frame of the machinebehind the axle ofthepropelling-wheels, substantially as hereinbefore described, and for thepurposes set forth.

6. The method of making an adjustable spring drivers seat, 'incombination with the fixed or solid standard or springstiffenerprojecting upward from the back' edge of the table or ooring,substantially as hereinbefore described, and for the purposes set forth.

7. The combination of the self-adjustable compensatingpole with a framehaving an oscillating motion transversely of the 'path of the machineand drag-chain, arranged and operating as hereinbefore described, andfor the purposes set forth. d ,y V

8. The use ofthe adjustable staple for locking the drag-chain, incombination with a selfA adjustable compensating-pole and drag-chain-attached to an oscillating mower-frame, sub

stantially as hereinbefore described, and for i the purposes-set forth.

9. The arrangement of the cutter-bar of a mower-frame havingangoscillating motion transversely of the path of the machine, and twopropellingwheels, so as'to operate forward of the axleof saidpropelling-Wheels, slibstantially as hereinbefore Set forth. i

NVM. VAN ANDEN.

i Vitnesses:

F; BLANKENHORN,- JOSEPH C. HARRIS.

